Steam and vapor injector



, Nov. 29, 1949 H. G. BLUMBERG ET AL 2,439,745

STEAM AND VAPOR INJECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1947 INVENTORS Ha mzliow G'.B Zu mbe 7i flberi M. Sievefis 5 ATTORNEYS N 1949 H. G. BLUMBERG n AL STEAM AND VAPOR INJECTOR Filed July 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR S m berg ATTORNEYS M m m Patented Nov. 29, 1949 2.489.745 STEAM ANDY VAPOR INJECTOR Hamilton G. Blumberg and Elbert M. Stevens, San Antonio, Tex.

" Application July 15, 1947, Serial No. 761,059

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a steam or vapor injector for fuel systems of internal-combustion engines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a steam or vapor injector for fuel systems adapted to be extended into the exhaust manifold or pipe of an internal combustion engine to receive heat necessary for the evaporation of small quantities of water which may be extended thereto and wherein adequate control means is provided for permitting the use of the steam in the carburetor when the engine is being run at the high speeds and wherein the steam valve may be closed when the motor is idling or going down grade.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a steam or vapor injector for use with internal combustion engines which is of simple construction, easy to install, inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of our steam or vapor injector mounted on an exhaust manifold and connected with a water supply tank.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of our injector,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the figures, l represents an exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine having a threaded opening II with a threaded sleeve 12 fitted thereinto. A hollow cylinder or casing I3 is threadedly connected to the sleeve and is brought down upon a gasket 14 and tightly upon the manifold Ill. The upper end of the cylinder I3 is closed at l5 and has a boss It to which is connected an upwardly extending T-fitting I! which has connected to it a sleeve l8 that-is extended downwardly into the exhaust manifold to provide a passage for the downward flow of water to be generated into steam. The lower end of the sleeve l8 has a cup shaped head l9 threaded thereupon to receive the water and to provide a heat conductor between the exhaust gases and the water.

An elbow fitting 2| is connected to the T-fltting l1 and to which there is connected a supply pipe 22 leading from a water tank 23. A cap 24 can be removed from the top of the tank when same is to be filled. A metering valve 25 is provided in the supply pipe 22. On the upper end of the T-fitting I! there is connected a threaded coupling 26 to which there is connected a pipe 21 which depends from the fitting I1 and passes downwardly through sleeve l8 to the head l9 where it is flared as indicated at 28 to receive the steam which is generated in the head I9.

On the upper end of the threaded c0upling'25 is a valve fitting 29 in which is disposed a needle valve element 3| for the controlling of the steam leaving the pipe 21 to enter pipe 32 for communication to a carburetor. On the casing I3 is a bracket 33 having a control lever 34 pivoted thereon and adapted to lift a rod 35 connected to a bent over portion 35 on the upper end of needle valve 3|. A bracket 36 is secured to fitting l1 by fastening screws 31. This bracket has portions 38 through which the rod 35 is extended. A spring 39 on the rod 35 reacts against an upper portion 38 of the bracket 36 and a collar 4| on the rod 35 to normally maintain the needle valve in a closed position within the fitting 29. The operation of the lever 34 by a rod 42 is against the action of spring 39.

When it is desired to inject steam into the carburetor the lever 34 is pushed down and the rod 35 raised to lift the needle valve 3|. Any surplus steam extended into pipe 32 can be vented through a hole 44 in the pipe 32. When the needle valve is closed any steam which is generated may be returned to the supply tank and is vented from pipe 21 to fitting I! through hole 45.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a steam and vapor injector for internal combustion engines having an exhaust manifold and a carburetor and the injector having a casing, means for fitting the casing upon the exhaust manifold, a sleeve depending from the top of the casing and extending downwardly through the center thereof into the exhaust manifold, a fitting attached to said sleeve by means of which water is delivered to the sleeve, 2. central pipe within the sleeve and extending to the bottom thereof, a head on the sleeve and surrounding the lower end of the central pipe, said pipe receiving the steam and conducting the same upwardly, the improvement comprising a needle valve housing connected to the pipe and having a needle valve therein for controlling the passage of steam therethrough, and an outlet pipe for supplying the steam to the carburetor connected to said needle valve housing, a steam vent for surplus steam within said outlet pipe that is adapted to be connected to the carburetor and a second vent in the central pipe adjacent the upper end thereof for permitting the return of the steam to the inlet water when the needle valve is in closed position.

2. In a steam and vapor injector for carburetors having a casing, and means for connecting the casing to an opening within an exhaust manifold, a T-fitting adapted to receive an inlet water supply, a sleeve mounted on the T-fitting" and adapted to be extended downwardly through the casing of the manifold as the T'-fitting is disposed on the lower end of the sleeve and adapted to be heated by the exhaust gases, a threaded connecting member secured to the T- fitting, a central pipe secured to the connecting member and adapted to extend downwardly through the T-fitting andthe-sleeve to the head at the bottom thereof when the connecting member is connected to the T-fitting, the improvement comprising a needle valve fitting connected to the threaded connecting'member, said needle valve extending to the exterior of the fitting, and means connected with the casing and operable connected with the casing, a cup shaped head" upon the needle valve to operate the same, said last means including a bracket upon the casing, a lever pivoted on the bracket, a bracket secured to the T-fitting and having vertically spaced and aligned guide portions, a rod extending vertically through the guide portions and adapted to be engaged by the lever on the casing bracket, a portion on said needle valve extending laterally from the upper end of the same externally of the fitting and engaging with the upper end of the rod, and said means further including a spring on the rod and reacting between one of the guide portions'and' the rod to normally maintain the needle valve in a closed position.

HAMILTON G. BLUMBERG. ELBERT M. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES FATENTs" 

